All Black great Jonah Lomu receives his first Test cap alongside 35 other All Blacks honoured at a ceremony in Auckland. Photo/file
All Black great Jonah Lomu receives his first Test cap alongside 35 other All Blacks honoured at a ceremony in Auckland. Photo/file
All Blacks Sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens first picked Jonah Lomu when he was barely out of Wesley College and the two remained close ever since.
Speaking to the Bay of Plenty Times minutes after hearing the tragic news of Lomu's death yesterday, Sir Gordon said he would remember his friend for his personal qualities as much as his extraordinary rugby deeds.
"I am obviously devastated with the news that has come through about Jonah. It has really hit me for a six," Sir Gordon said. "He was such a humble guy and he oozed that humility factor. He was someone who loved our culture and Jonah was always about the we, never about I, even though he was famous. He was always part of our team and gave as much as anyone else, which was quite special about him.
Jonah Lomu and Sir Gordon Tietjens at All Blacks Sevens training in 2001.
"Back in 1994 when I saw Jonah playing at the nationals for Counties, I knew there was someone who was individually brilliant, in terms of his explosive power, his size, his speed, everything. It made him into one of my best-ever sevens players.
"I quite often get asked who has been the most outstanding player that ever played for me and that is always hard when you are trying to separate players who have different qualities. Jonah was probably the most outstanding individual in terms of the X-factors that he offered to us on a sevens field.
"I can never forget when he single-handedly won me a Sevens World Cup in 2001 in the final against Australia, after losing my captain Eric Rush with a broken leg. He was totally outstanding. When Rushy left, Jonah led the most stirring haka I have ever seen and that was Jonah to a T."
Sir Gordon says Lomu was a constant inspiration to the players that followed.
"He came down before the last World Cup and would see us at different times wherever the team was assembled. He would meet the guys, jump in the changing rooms at different tournaments like he was still part of our sevens team.
"The thing with sevens, is when any player comes back to meet the current team at any stage, it is like they have never left. And that was what it was like with Jonah."
Tributes to Jonah Lomu
Matua Parkinson, former All Blacks Sevens
Matua Parkinson, former All Blacks Sevens
"Jonah and I travelled together a few times with New Zealand Sevens and Hurricanes. As a person he was one of the boys, so humble and made you feel you were just as good as him. He never skited around how big he was. He was a respectful man coming from his background. He was just a spectacular and genuine man."
Bay Steamers coach Clayton McMillan
Clayton McMillan, Bay of Plenty Steamers coach
"Obviously it is a huge shock to have lost such an icon of New Zealand rugby at such a young age. I was fortunate to have played against Jonah and got a close up view of how destructive and awesome he was. He will be sadly missed and is a legend and an inspiration to so many people, particularly the Pacific Island community."
Mike Rogers, chief executive, Bay of Plenty Rugby
Mike Rogers, chief executive, Bay of Plenty Rugby
"He was the first global superstar of rugby. His appeal and the role model he became in his career I almost think is second to none. As an ambassador of our sport, everyone you talk to who knew Jonah off the field says what a hell of a nice guy he was. He was always willing to give back to the game and understood how much the game had given him."
